Novel cyclometallated iridium–Pt/Pd dinuclear complexes containing the bridging ligand 2,2′:5′,2′′-terpyridine (BPP) and the peripheral phenylpyridine (ppy) ligand produced hydrogen under both visible (470 nm) and UV (350 nm) irradiation. The turnover numbers using visible light were found to be significantly higher, indicating an interplay between two independent excited states, only one of which produces H2 efficiently.